Tag Archives: outdoor

You’ve seen one multitool, you’ve seen them all. That used to be the case before the Headgehog came along. It injects a dose of cuteness into a saturated market by cramming a multitude of tools into a compact yet awesomely adorable package. As you can probably already guess from its name, the multitool comes in the form of a hedgehog.

Use the Headgehog’s spikes to comb your locks into place, and use the other tools as you please: a bottle opener, four wrenches, a Phillips screwdriver, and a chip clip. It can also function as a money clip or phone stand.

The Headgehog is currently up for funding on Kickstarter, where you make a pledge of at least $12 to get one of your very own.

If the blade on your multi-tool just doesn’t cut it, then you might want to check the SOG Key Knife out. It looks like a key, although it’s a bit thicker than the average because it packs a small-but-still-functional blade right in the shaft. You can go for a plain blade or a Key Knife with a nail file if you’re the type who picks at your nails a lot.

The Key Knife will set you back about $10-$11, whichever type you pick.

Who would’ve thought that a grenade might just save your life when you’re stranded or lost in the great outdoors? Not the ones that go boom but rather, the Z.A.P.S. Gear Survival Grenade. Designed by a marine scout sniper, the “grenade” is actually an uber-compact survival kit that contains things you’ll need to get by when you’re stuck in the wilderness: a steel shackle, compass, wire saw, snares, fire starters, fish hooks, knife blades, Ziploc bags, a whistle, and water purification tables, among other things.

It also comes with a user’s guide so you’ll know what each one is for and how to use them, should the need arise.

There are two types of people in this world among the many different classifications: those who underpack, and those who overpack. Of course, sometimes you get it right once in a while and pack just enough, but it’s often one or the other. For those who belong to the former, there’s the Scrubba wash bag.

The Scrubba looks like a plain bag on the outside, but it’s packed with row upon row of nodules on the inside that function as an internal washboard. All you have to do is fill it up with water, detergent, and your dirty clothes and rub the Scrubba this way and that for 30 seconds to 3 minutes.

Unload and hang your stuff to dry, and you’ll have a fresh change of clothes in no time. The Scrubba is available online for $55.

When it rains, it pours. And when there’s a blackout, well, that’s seemingly the only time when you seem to have misplaced all of your batteries… batteries which you could have otherwise used to power up your flashlight. The good news is that there’s an alternative torch by Eton called the Blackout Buddy H2O.

Its name gives a clue when it comes to what it needs to power up, and it ain’t batteries. Yep, you got that right: this handy flashlight needs nothing but water to run. Just put the Blackout Buddy into a cup that’s filled with water and boom, you’ve got light. It can provide up to 72 hours of illumination, which should hopefully be more than enough. The best part? It retails for only $10.

Space is limited. Not just in the major cities of the world, but in your backpack too. There’s only so much you can fit into your backpack: your sleeping bag, maybe a thermos, some rations. But one thing you should definitely make room for is this flashlight-slash-tube of utility tools by VSSL. It’s ingenious, really.

They’ve made better use of the otherwise vacant space in the handle of a flashlight by filling it up with tins containing potentially life-saving stuff. Three types of VSSL utility tubes are available: Supplies, First Aid, and Shelter. Each one comes with a set of components all packed neatly into tin cans. For example, the Supplies tin comes with a Canadian beeswax candle, a razor blade, six Aquatabs water purification tablets, waterproof matches, fishing gear, firestars, and a signaling mirror, among other things.… Continue Reading

Too lazy to change into your PJs before turning in? With this suit on, you won’t have to. In fact, you don’t even need a bed, because this thing is a mattress in itself. It’s the King Jim wearable futon and it’s a viable alternative for frequent travelers who can’t be bothered to bring a futon, mattress, or sleeping bag when they’re out and about.

All you have to do is whip it out, wear it, and lie down. If you’re using it as a coat, the bottoms can be folded up to adjust the wearable futon to your height.… Continue Reading

This belt is for survivors. It’s Slide Belt’s Survival model, and it stays true to its name because it’s built to last through the toughest of situations. The belt is waterproof, resistant to abrasions, and UV protected. It even flexes like normal even at sub-zero temperatures– a feature you’ll appreciate if ice climbing is one of your hobbies.

Aside from that, the belt features a built-in bottle opener which definitely comes in handy when you’re out with the guys. Cough up a few more bucks for the Survivor model and you’ll get a belt that comes with a striker and ferrocerium fire starter rod that’s good for 1,000 strikes.

The belts are up for funding on Kickstarter, where $59 will get you the Survival model while $89 will get you the Survivor Belt with the firestarter.

If there’s one thing you’ll be happy to have during an emergency, it’s the Goal Zero Torch Solar Kit. It’s bigger than your average torch, but that’s because it includes a Nomad 7 Solar Panel that turns sunlight into usable energy. It powers up the torch and also charges up the Goal Zero’s internal lithium battery so you can charge your smartphone and other mobile devices when you’re on the go.

The best part? The Goal Zero Torch Solar Kit is both lightweight and weather-resistant so you can take it with you anywhere. It’s available for $160.

OhGizmo! is a frequently updated blog that focuses on covering items that will appeal to a very specific and often very passionate audience: the geek. Aside from the fare of innovative consumer electronic products, the reader can expect to find news about geek culture, absurd inventions, awe inspiring technology, and an ever growing assortment of articles that we like to think fit within our view of what we’re calling the Geek Lifestyle.